Josh Hader

Fantasy News

• Astros' Josh Hader: Slated for mound work next week

  Rotowire Mar 5, 2026

  Hader (biceps) will throw a bullpen session early next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Hader developed left biceps inflammation before reporting to Astros camp and has been limited to flat-ground work since then. He also missed the final seven-plus weeks of last season with a left shoulder strain, so he hasn't pitched in a game setting since early August of last year. Hader is unlikely to have time to ramp up for Opening Day, setting up Bryan Abreu to serve as the Astros' early-season closer.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Could throw off mound next week

  Rotowire Mar 3, 2026

  Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Hader (biceps) could throw a bullpen session next week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Hader has been limited to flat-ground work since he came down with left biceps inflammation just before the start of Astros camp. He is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, as Hader needs time to ramp things back up before being game-ready. Hader has not pitched in a game setting since early August of last year, as he missed the final seven-plus weeks of the season with a left shoulder strain. Bryan Abreu is lined up to serve as Houston's closer at the beginning of the season.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Plays catch off mound

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2026

  Hader (biceps) played catch off the mound Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Hader was just tossing the ball and not throwing a bullpen session, so while it's a step in his rehab progression, it's a minor one. Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Hader is not yet scheduled for a bullpen session. It appears unlikely at this point that Hader will have time to ramp up for Opening Day, and if that's the case, Bryan Abreu would be in line to fill in as Houston's closer.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Might not be ready for Opening Day

  Rotowire Feb 23, 2026

  Hader (biceps) could begin the season on the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The Astros have not ruled Hader out for Opening Day as he works his way back from left biceps inflammation. However, the closer is not included in the team's roster projection by Rome, who writes that it's "difficult to envision" the Astros rushing Hader back for the opener. Hader is currently limited to playing light catch on flat ground and it's unclear when he'll be allowed to throw off a mound again. If Hader does need to miss time, Bryan Abreu would assume the closer role for the Astros.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Plays catch Wednesday

  Rotowire Feb 18, 2026

  Hader (biceps) played catch out to 90 feet Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Hader is still in the early stages of his throwing program after he was briefly shut down earlier this month when he experienced inflammation in his left biceps. Prior to that, Hader missed the final month and a half of the 2025 season while recovering from a left shoulder strain, but he appeared to have a normal offseason before the biceps issue cropped up following his fourth bullpen session of the winter, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Hader still has a chance of completing his throwing program in advance of Opening Day, but if he suffers a setback or otherwise requires a brief stint on the injured list to begin the season, Bryan Abreu would likely rank as the top option for saves out of the Houston bullpen.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Diagnosed with bicep inflammation

  Rotowire Feb 11, 2026

  Hader will resume a throwing program Wednesday after being shut down since early February with left bicep inflammation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. It seems the left shoulder strain that sidelined Hader for the final seven-plus weeks of last season is behind him, but now he has a new injury to contend with. The veteran reliever will resume throwing Wednesday and ramp up slowly, and his status for Opening Day is up in the air. If Hader needs some time on the injured list, Bryan Abreu would step in as the Astros' closer.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Throwing lightly on flat ground

  Rotowire Feb 9, 2026

  Hader (shoulder) has been throwing lightly on flat ground and the Astros expect to have a better idea as to his status by the middle of this week, Buster Olney of ESPN reports. Earlier in the offseason, Hader -- who missed the final seven-plus weeks of last season with a left shoulder strain -- told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle that he felt "back to normal" and had been throwing off a mound. This latest update suggests there's less certainty about the closer's health, however. If it turns out that Hader had a setback or simply isn't ready, Bryan Abreu would be next in line for saves in the Houston bullpen.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Expects normal offseason

  Rotowire Nov 25, 2025

  Hader (shoulder) stated Monday that he feels back at full strength after completing his rehab program a few weeks ago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. Hader's 2025 season came to an early end after he was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, but he's feeling strong after finishing up his rehab. The lefty noted Monday that he thinks he'll be able to throw as he normally would leading up to spring training. "It should be normal," said Hader. "Obviously, intensity gets up and we'll see how that goes and how I'm recovering, bouncing back from that. But as of now, everything is status quo, back to normal."

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Throwing off mound

  Rotowire Nov 12, 2025

  General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Hader (shoulder) has thrown off a mound three times, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Hader's season ended in mid-August after he suffered a left shoulder strain, but he appears to be progressing well in his rehab program. The Astros have yet to establish a return timeline for the lefty closer, however, so his availability for the start of spring training remains unknown.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Yet to resume throwing

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2025

  Hader (shoulder) has yet to resume throwing, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Hader has yet to resume throwing since being shut down Aug. 15 due to a left shoulder capsule injury. The 31-year-old previously indicated that he'd need roughly three weeks to ramp up once cleared to throw. It's unclear when he'll start throwing at this point, but his postseason availability will be threatened if he doesn't begin soon.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Expected to be out until postseason

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2025

  It will take Hader (shoulder) three more weeks to ramp up after his three-week shutdown, meaning he likely won't pitch again in the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported Friday. Hader is dealing with a left shoulder capsule sprain, and it will take him approximately six weeks to get back to a point where he can pitch for the Astros. That timeline would mean a late-September return, so the expectation is that Hader won't be available until the postseason. Bryan Abreu got the first crack at closing duties and seems to be the frontrunner for saves the rest of the way. Houston has a half-game lead in the division but would likely earn a Wild Card spot if Seattle passes them for the division title.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Won't throw for three weeks

  Rotowire Aug 15, 2025

  Hader has been diagnosed with a left shoulder capsule sprain and will not throw for approximately three weeks, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. After the three weeks of not throwing, the next steps will be determined in Hader's recovery. Hader received multiple medical opinions on his injured shoulder, and this is the current course of action. A return toward the end of the regular season seems like best-case scenario right now. Bryan Abreu picked up the save in Hader's absence Wednesday against the Red Sox.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Getting second opinion on shoulder

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2025

  Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Hader will seek a second opinion on his left shoulder strain and will be sidelined "a little bit longer than the two weeks," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Espada would not reveal what the first diagnosis was, but the injury is at least bad enough that Hader will not be back when his 15 days on the injured list are up. More information on Hader's condition and timeline should be available after he gets the second opinion. Espada has said he will not name a closer while Hader is out, but Bryan Abreu is the favorite to see most of the ninth-inning work for the Astros.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Nursing shoulder issue

  Rotowire Aug 11, 2025

  Astros manager Joe Espada said that Hader wasn't available to pitch in Monday's 7-6 victory over the Red Sox due to left shoulder discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Espada didn't specify whether Hader will require a stint on the injured list due to the shoulder issue, as the Astros will sent the closer in for further tests before deciding his next steps. While Hader was unavailable Monday, the Astros sent right-hander Enyel De Los Santos to the mound to begin the ninth inning, and he retired two of three hitters before being pulled in favor of lefty Bennett Sousa, who struck out the left-handed-hitting Roman Anthony to secure the save.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Picks up sixth win

  Rotowire Aug 9, 2025

  Hader (6-2) allowed one unearned run on one walk and one hit across two innings to earn the win Friday against the Yankees. Hader entered the game with the score tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning. He pitched a clean opening frame and then managed to protect a three-run lead in the 10th inning, despite giving up a run-scoring single to the second batter he faced. Hader has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run, picking up three saves and a win in that span.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Clean outing in non-save situation

  Rotowire Aug 6, 2025

  Hader walked one and struck out two across a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Marlins. Hader hadn't appeared in a game since Friday, so he made an appearance despite Houston holding a four-run lead. He walked the second batter he faced but ran into little trouble and has now turned in seven consecutive scoreless appearances since the All-Star break.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Nails down 28th save

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2025

  Hader picked up the save in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Nationals, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning. The All-Star southpaw dispatched the Nationals, with nine of his 13 pitches landing for strikes. The three strikeouts were Hader's most since May 28 versus the Athletics, and he's tallied multiple punchouts in seven of his last nine outings. For the season, he owns a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 73:13 K:BB while converting 28 of his 29 save chances over 48.2 frames.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Walks tightrope for save

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2025

  Hader walked two in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Hader got two outs on his first six pitches, then walked two batters before getting Josh Naylor on a flyout to end the threat. Hader took a blown save in his last appearance before the All-Star break and has walked four batters over three innings in two outings since the season resumed, which has made for a tumultuous July for the Houston closer. He's still been sharp enough when it matters, converting 26 of 27 save chances this season with a 2.36 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 66:13 K:BB across 45.2 innings.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Takes first blown save

  Rotowire Jul 13, 2025

  Hader allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in one inning to take a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rangers. Hader served up a game-tying home run to Kyle Higashioka in the ninth inning, which stuck the Houston closer with his first blown save of the year. He's also showing some struggles -- after allowing four runs (three earned) across 13.2 innings in June, he's been charged with six runs (five earned) through five frames in July. The long ball remains a problem, as Hader has given up eight homers in 42.2 innings this season, though he's largely been successful by converting 25 of 26 save chances. He's added a 2.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 65:9 K:BB, ratios that are better than last year across the board.

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• Astros' Josh Hader: Secures save No. 25

  Rotowire Jul 6, 2025

  Hader notched a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in one scoreless inning. Hader entered with a two-run lead in the ninth frame and quickly saw the tying run come to the plate after allowing Shohei Ohtani to hit a leadoff single. However, Hader retired the following three batters in order, as none of Mookie Betts, Will Smith or Freddie Freeman could move Ohtani past first base. Hader remains without a blown save this season, and he leads all MLB relievers with 25 total saves.

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